Heel for boots or shoes



AAvuqosfloael.) z Sheetssheet 1t C. H.- MARTIN.

HEEL POR BOOTS OR SHOES.

No. 384,634. Patented June 19, 1888.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(NO Model.)

C; H. MARTIN.

HEEL POR BOOTS OR SHOES.

No. 884,884. PatentedJune 19, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. MARTIN, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

HEEL FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 384,634, dated June 19, 1888.

Application filed March 23, 1888. Serial No. 268,277. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Bridgeport, Fairfield county, Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cushioned Heels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of lboot or shoe heels in which an elastic medium is interposed between the boot or shoe and the heel block or plate to reduce shocks and consequent fatigue in walking; and my invention consists in constructing the cushioned heel, as fully set forth hereinafter, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved cushioned heel. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a slightly different construction.

Fig.3 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a filling block or pad, which, in combination with the springs, forms the cushion. Fig-5 is a plan view, the upper plate being removed. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the heel block or case; Fig. 7, an inverted perspective view of thelguard; Fig. 8, an inverted perspective view of the upper plate. Fig. 9 is a transverse section showing a modified form of locking device. Fig. 10 is a plan, and Fig. 1l an inverted plan, of part ofthe locking device. Fig. 12 isa plan showing a different mode of forming the retracting-spring. Fig. 13 is aperspective view showing amodiication.

The heel of the boot or shoe consists of a plate or block, A, which may be of any suitable material and of the usual outline; but, as shown, it consists of a anged block or case, and in most instances I prefer to place within the said case a filling block or pad, B, of rubber, felt, or other suitable materiahwhich has recesses my for the springs and connectingbolt hereinafter referred to.

To secure the heel to the sole of the boot or shoe,I use a metallic plate, C, having openings for the passage of securing nails or screws, by means of which it is fastened tothe under side of the sole at the heel portion, and in the constructions shown in Figs. 3 and 5 in a recess inthe said plate C is titted a socketed detachable block, D, receiving an angular nut, E, having an enlarged head which contacts with the flange a of the socket-block, so that the said nut can have a limited vertical move.- ment, but cannot be drawn downward from the socket.

A screw, F, which passes through the heelplate A, engages with the nutE and serves to secure the heel-plate to the plate C, and springs G G, of any suitable charactencompressed between the two plates A C and arranged within the openings as in the pad B, (when this combination is used,) tend to separate the plates and constitute a yielding cushion bearing, which diminishes the shocks in Walking and consequent fatigue, thereby obviating the objections to the usual rigid heels. By varying the thickness of the pads the cushioned heels may be adapted to the weights of the different wearers without varying the springs G.

In Letters Patent No. 35h98@ granted to me on the 28th day of December, 1886, I describe a spring-heel in which the movable heel plate or block A is surrounded by a guardstrip or guard having a lining of felt.

I have found in practice that while the use of such alining ispracticable in some instances and in certain forms of guards, it may in most cases be dispensed with, and that by using a spring-guard capable of yielding in all directions and yet bearing close at its lower edge against the outer face ot' the heel-block, I ain enabled to dispense with the felt lining and not only secure the advantage ot' reduced expense, but avoid the objections incident to the partial detachment of the lining when it becornes worn. The said guard may -form part of the plate C, Fig. 1, or may be separate therefrom, Figs. 2 to 9, the latter being much preferable. As shown in the drawings,the guard J, conforming in its general outlines to the curved edge ofthe heel,is provided with a pendent dange, b, the upper edge of which is ou a level with the plate C, While the lower edge is below the top oftheheel block or plate A. In Figlitis shown as deeper than in Fig.2. The said dange is curved inward, so that its lower edge nieets the edge of the heel-block, and the plate C is provided at its straight edge with a pendent ange, d, which overlaps the straight edge of the heelblock or extends intoa recess, c, thereof.

The guard J may be of spring metal, so as ICO , to spring inward and clasp the heel-block by its own elasticity. I prefer, however, to supplement or effect the spring action by the use of one or more springs, K, connected with the guard and tending to draw it toward or cause it to hug the heel-block.

In the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 5 the spring K consists of a spring-wire bent to form three loops, 3 3 3, and two crossed arms, 4 4, and theloops 3 engage each with the hook end of an arm, e, extending inward from the guard J, while the arms 4 4 of the spring bear against the socket-block D.

In the construction shown in Fig. I2 the spring K has a single loop engaging the hooks, and the ends are bent to form inwardly-cross ing spring-arms 4 4, that bear on the socket` block. The spring K must be expanded to take the position indicated in the drawings, so that as it contracts the rear end the guard is drawn forward by the pressure of the arms 4 of the spring upon the block D, while the sides of the guard are drawn inward by the tendency of the sides of the spring to come together, the guard being thus caused to hug the heelblock at all points, while it will accompany the movements of the licei-block as the latter yields under the weight and movements ofthe wearer.

In order to maintain the guard in proper position in respect to the plate C,.it is preferably provided with inwardly-projecting lips f, that extend over the plate, while the arms c extend beneath the plate, which has edge slot-s w to permit the freedom of movement of the said arms.

Vhen the cushioned support consists of an elastic pad without the springs G, I prefer to use a plate, C, having a series of conical projections, .e z, Fig. 13, which bear upon the pad and penetrate the latter, as the weight on the heel increases, with an elasticresistance which deadens the shocks.

Instead of using a screw bolt or pin F extending upward through the case to a nut supported by the plate C, I sometimes secure the parts together, as shown in Fig. 9, by ascrewbolt -passing through the block D, with its head resting on the iiange a, its threaded end entering a nut, E, within a socket in the case or entering a threaded socket in the case itself'. The block I) may form part of orbe an attachment to the plate C.

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, I claimN l. The combination, with aV` movable heelcase, A, adapted to be secured to a sole and having a cushion bearing thereon, of a surrounding springguard plate bearing directly against the ease, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the cushionsupported heel-case A, adapted to be connected 1 with a boot or shoe, of a guard, J, connected movably with the boot or shoe and surrounding the ease, substantially as set'forth.

3. The combination, with a shoe having a movable heel-case, A, of a spring-guard, J, adapted to be connected with the shoe to move to a limited extent horizontally and bearing against the outer curved face of the heel-case, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the movable heel-case, a surrounding independent guard inclosing the upper portion of the case, and a spring contracting the guard upon the case, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the plate C, heelcase A, connected movably to said plate and interposed cushion, of a guard, J, having a limited horizontal movement in respect to said plate C, and a spring bearing upon the guard and contracting it upon the case, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, in a cushioned heel, of a plate, C, for attaching the shoe, a heel-case, A, connected movably with the plate C, interposed cushion and a guard, J, provided with inwardly-extending arms e, and a spring eonnected with said arms to contract the guard, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the plate C, socketblock D, having a fiange, a nut, E, having a head and fitted to the socket-block, screw F, extending through the heel-case into the nut, and cushion interposed between the case and the plate C, substantially as set fort-h.

8. The combination, in a eushion-heel, of a plate, C, adapted to be connected with the shoe and having a downwardly-extending iange, d, a movable heel-case, A, having a recess, t, to receive the ange d and interposed cushion, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, in a cushioned heel, of the case A, plate C, supporting a separate block, D, and a screw passing through the block and connecting with the case, substantially as described.

l0. The combination of the case, plate C, separate block D, screw F, and nut, substantially as described.

11. The combination ofthe case, plate having a flange, Z, springs G, and perforated pad B of elastic material, substantially as described.

12. The combination of the case A, containing an elastic support, and the plate C, having projections z, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES I-I. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

J. M. 0111s, A. J. SMITH.

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